Costa Rica- Pastor charged with 22 counts of sexual abuse

A Costa Rican pastor has been charged with 22 counts of sexual abuse of three adults and one minor.

A. Gutiérrez, a pastor at Iglesia Dios del Evangelio Completo in Santa Cruz, denies all charges despite victims’ testimonies. Gutiérrez has been released despite prosecutors request to be placed in detention while awaiting trial set for three months from now.

We encourage the leaders of Iglesia Dios del Evangelio Completo to inform their parishioners the former pastor’s charges and forbid him from interacting with all members of the church, not just the victims as instruction by the judge.

We urge any other victims or witnesses to come forward with more information in order to help put Gutiérrez in prison safely away from children.